Clearing of the former Mitholz ammunition depot: Federal Council approves billion-euro loan
After an explosion in 1947, 3,500 tons of Swiss Army ammunition lay buried near the village of Mitholz near Kandersteg.
top. The Federal Council has taken the next step in clearing the Mitholz ammunition depot. As he announced at a press conference on Wednesday (November 16), he approved a loan of CHF 2.59 billion for the clearance of the ammunition residues. Parliament must now approve the sum.
The approved loan is divided into three parts: around one billion Swiss francs is earmarked for protective measures and preparations for the evacuation. The second part of the loan, amounting to CHF 740 million, finances the clearance and disposal of the ammunition residues and the repair of the damaged site. The loan also includes CHF 760 million for any project risks. According to the Federal Council, there are still uncertainties regarding the exact location, condition and quantity of the ammunition residues.
The ammunition depot, which is in the immediate vicinity of the village of Mitholz near Kandersteg, was built during World War II. The camp exploded in 1947, killing nine people. It was not until 2018 that experts realized that the camp still posed a greater risk than previously assumed. In December 2020, the Federal Council finally decided to completely remove the ammunition residues in the warehouse. The evacuation is scheduled to take place between 2030 and 2040. In the spring of this year, the DDPS announced that 51 people would have to leave their homes for this.
Federal Council restricts immigration of Croatian workers
Workers from Croatia are not only in high demand in the construction industry.
tsf. In 2023, the Federal Council will once again limit the access of Croatian workers to the Swiss labor market. The Federal Council announced on Wednesday that the number of employees from Croatia had risen sharply in the current year and had exceeded the thresholds specified in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.
Since January 1, 2022, Croatians have in principle had full freedom of movement. However, the protective clause provided for in the relevant agreement allows Switzerland to unilaterally reintroduce approval quotas for a limited period of time. This is in the event that immigration from Croatia exceeds a certain threshold. This threshold is reached when the number of permits granted is more than 10 percent above the average of the three previous years.
With the rapid economic recovery after the Covid 19 crisis, there was a sharp increase in the immigration of foreign workers to Switzerland in 2022. In the case of Croatia, the Federal Council issued a total of 2,413 B permits for Croatian workers between January and October. Due to the strong increase, quotas should now apply again: According to the Federal Council’s plan, 1150 new B permits and 1007 new L permits will be available for Croatian workers in 2023.
Croatian workers were mainly in demand in manufacturing, construction, hospitality and trade.
The Federal Council uses the instruments at its disposal to better manage migration in accordance with economic needs. In the past he has repeatedly made use of the safeguard clause against nationals of other countries that had recently joined the EU.
SBB: Interest in bicycle spaces is increasing
More popular than ever: train rides with bicycle transport.
cov. In 2022, more passengers carried their bikes on the train. The SBB reported on Wednesday (November 16) in a media release on their news portal. The number of bicycle tickets purchased has increased for the fifth year in a row. Compared to the previous year, 14 percent more bike passes were sold. This spring and summer, the SBB have already created additional bicycle spaces on popular routes on weekends and public holidays and are expecting demand to continue to rise. For this reason, more space for bicycles is to be created on the trains in the next few years. SBB is also planning to build new parking spaces and refurbish existing ones at the train stations – including in Frauenfeld, Biel, Freiburg, Lugano and Mendrisio.
Because interest in carrying bicycles is growing, the SBB are also adapting the bicycle tickets. From the timetable change on December 11, 2022, their area of validity will be aligned with that of the GA travelcard. The purchasing process is to be simplified from next spring: “Previously, travelers had to decide for themselves whether they wanted a day pass or a half-price point-to-point ticket. In the future, the sales system will automatically give you the cheapest ticket if you state that you are traveling by bike when you buy it,” writes the SBB. In addition, only connections on which self-loading of bikes is possible would be displayed. The reservation process for bicycle spaces will also be improved.
Telecom providers must report faults more quickly and increase protection against manipulation
Customers should be informed more quickly about network disruptions.
tsf. The Federal Council wants consumers to be better informed in the event of disruptions to the telecommunications networks. As he decided on Wednesday (November 16), from 2023 providers of telecommunications services must inform the National Alarm Center as soon as a fault in their network affects at least 10,000 people. So far, there was a limit of 30,000 people. In addition, the Federal Council also stipulates in the revised ordinance on telecommunications services that providers must refer to the disruptions on their website.
Internet access providers must strengthen their security measures against unauthorized manipulation of telecommunications systems. If they detect harmful activity on a website, e.g. B. a phishing attempt, they must be able to block or restrict the corresponding Internet connection according to the new regulation. The same measures should be taken to isolate infected or vulnerable devices.
For this purpose, according to the Federal Council, the providers must introduce methods with which data originating from their network with a forged source IP address can be filtered.
In view of the next allocation of mobile frequencies, which is scheduled for 2027/28, the Federal Council has commissioned the Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications to examine whether the corresponding centers of the mobile network operators must be operated in Switzerland.
Brochure on sexual education for children and young people: Association files criminal charges
Sex education is taught in schools in Basel using a so-called sex box with genitals made of wood and fabric.
cog. The “Hey You” brochure is intended to contribute to sex education for children and young people aged 12 and over. Among other things, the authors also give tips on the correct use of sex toys. Now an association has filed a criminal complaint against those responsible for the brochure. The authors would thus violate Article 187, Item 1 of the Criminal Code («Sexual acts with children»).
The work is published by the Swiss Sexual Health Association. The criminal complaint was filed against both the club and two editors of the brochure. The advertisement was submitted by Association Protection Initiative, who claims to be against “early sexualization”. Most of the members of the board of the association are representatives of the SVP.
The brochure would “under the guise of sex education encourage children and young people from the age of 12 to use sex toys such as strap-on dildos, wet wipes and anal plugs,” writes the Verein Schutzinitiative in the media release. Those responsible for “Hey You” would have tempted children to engage in sexual activity and thus made themselves liable to prosecution. The legal interest to be protected is the undisturbed psychological, emotional and sexual development of the child.
In addition to filing criminal charges, the Protection Initiative Association is also taking administrative action against the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) because the authority supports the Swiss Sexual Health Foundation financially.